Accident Report: Fatality Reference
PDF Version
March 7, 2019 Fatality - Fatality Alert.pdf
(529.37 KB)
MINE FATALITY – On Thursday, March 7, 2019, a 38-year-old miner with 10 years of mining experience received fatal injuries while he was working on the pad of a highwall mining machine (HWM). The miner was contacted in a pinch point between a post and a section of the HWM (i.e. push beam) that was being removed as part of the normal mining cycle.
Best Practices
- Establish and discuss safe work procedures for removing push beams. Identify and control all hazards and develop methods to protect miners.
- Determine the proper working position to avoid pinch points. Monitor personnel to ensure safe work procedures are followed.
- Always follow the equipment manufacturer’s recommended maintenance procedures and discuss these procedures during training.
- Train miners to recognize potential hazardous conditions and understand safe job procedures before beginning work.
Additional Information
This is the fifth fatality reported in calendar year 2019 in the mining industry and the third classified as a Machinery accident. As of this date in 2018 there were three fatalities in the mining industry and none in this classification.